Notes:
mystery 神秘的な;
twinkle ぴかぴか[きらきら]光る;

———————
Early in November last year, I visited Tsumago in Nagano Prefecture. During the Edo period, it was a post town on a highway going from Edo to Kyoto. Historic buildings have been preserved, and there are no convenience stores, light poles, or traffic signals. All the shops close at 5 o’clock. During the dark night, the streets are only illuminated with paper-covered lamps, so the stars twinkle clearly in the sky. I felt as if I had been transported through time to the Edo period. It was like a mystery world. (written by a reader, edited by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
———————

Notes:
right 権利;
element 元素;
periodic table 周期表;
occur　存在する

——————–
Japanese scientists have been given the right to name a new element. It is number 113 on the periodic table. This element doesn’t occur in nature. It is a man-made element, and it is very difficult to make. It is also very difficult to see. Japanese scientists have only been able to make it a few times. Scientists in the U.S.A. and Russia have also tried to make it, but the Japanese scientists were more successful. What are they going to name it? The newspaper said that it might be called “Japonium.” (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
——————–